I was contemplating a talk I was to give at a church men’s breakfast when the Holy Spirit helped me realize the similarities between some scripture and wearing a police or military uniform.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, detailed how we must fight our battles in spiritual realms with specific instruction, comparing it to a Roman Soldiers uniform of the day. A helmet (for salvation), breastplate (of righteousness), belt (of truth), shield (of faith), sword (of the spirit), and shoes (of the Gospel).

Rather than getting into a full-blown sermon at the men’s breakfast on each one of the articles of the uniform and what they’re meant to be, it pressed on me that the key to wearing the “uniform” was to wear it in its entirety.

As a police officer and a former soldier, I would never go out on patrol without wearing my helmet, vest, belt, use of force options, C7 rifle, radio and boots. We dedicated 3 to 6 months of training at the base and police academy, prior to being sworn in, on how to properly wear our uniform and tools, in order to utilize them correctly and effectively in the course of our duties. I would never consider leaving the station or base without any part of my uniform, yet we try to engage the adversary every day with only parts of the “armor of God”.

For example, I would engage everyday trials and tribulations with the “sword” of the spirit, using the Word against our enemy, speaking scripture at situations, but failing to wear the entire armor and wondering why nothing is working. I was failing to protect my heart and maintain my self-worth with the “breastplate of righteousness”, protecting my mind from negative with the “helmet of salvation”, doubting and fearing because I did not take hold of my “shield of faith” etc.

I also had an epiphany while preparing for the men’s breakfast that wearing my entire military/police uniform came with practice, every day from sunrise to sundown. Others who had gone before us, Sergeants, Corporals, Constables, teaching and showing us how to properly put our uniform on and how to engage the enemy with it. Yet in Christian circles, we forget the word “FULL” when reading Ephesians 6. We do an insufficient job in teaching others how to wear the FULL of armor of God and then try to fight the adversary without our full potential.

I strongly encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in uniform to continue to strive to wear the FULL armor daily and utilize the power of the Holy Spirit that comes with it.

God Bless.